Plant City doctor loses his medical license

An impotent patient ended up with a 56-hour erection and permanent damage to his penis.

By WES ALLISON

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 4, 2000

FORT LAUDERDALE -- The Florida Board of Medicine on Friday revoked the license of a Plant City doctor after his treatment of a 61-year-old patient gave the man an erection that lasted 56 hours and permanently damaged his penis.

In December 1993, the man came to Dr. Ernest S. Colina, who was then working at the Orlando Vascular Clinic, complaining of impotence. Colina injected his penis with Prostaglandin E-1, which caused an immediate erection that would not subside.

Two days later, with his penis still rigid and painful, the patient called Colina for help and was told to take ibuprofen and pack his penis in ice, according to the state Department of Health.

Finally, after having an erection for 56 hours, the man went to the South Seminole Regional Medical Center emergency room later that day, where his penis was flushed by another doctor. But the erection returned, infection and pain continued, and the man was admitted three weeks later to a local hospital for treatment.

The Florida Department of Health found that Colina did not have sufficient training to treat the man and that he failed to inform the patient of the risks.

Prostaglandin may be used to treat impotence, but the physician is supposed to monitor the patient and adjust the dose.

The doctor also should re-examine the patient if the erection persists for more than four hours, the state said. Colina failed to do that, an attorney for the Health Department told the board. The man suffered permanent damage to his penis, but state records did not elaborate.

The board revoked Colina's license Friday after state officials said he was practicing beyond his scope of expertise. Colina did not attend the meeting, said Department of Health spokesman Frank Penela.

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